The Journal Gazette reports that the US Airways Express flights will start Oct. 2, with twice daily service to Philadelphia and once daily to Charlotte. US Airways Express is part of American Airlines.

Local officials who pushed for the flights said at Monday's announcement that the new flights will foster economic development.

Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry says the flights will also position Indiana's second-largest city as a destination.

The Fort Wayne City Council allocated up to $600,000 in March to help induce an airline to offer daily flights to an East Coast travel hub from the Fort Wayne International Airport.